Helenius and Seattle got the better of Jung and Kelowna in the first of a home-and-home set between the Thunderbirds and Rockets. The teams play again tonight (Saturday) in Seattle. Helenius's 1.62 Goals Against Average is tops in the WHL among goalies playing more than one game. His .922 save percentage is top-5.

Crowley made his return to the Tips after attending a funeral in Saskatchewan, but the Tips continue to struggle. The team finally settled on their overager situation, however. Minnesota Wild second rounder and oft-injured forward Ondrej Fiala, 20, was traded to the Saskatoon Blades for a 2009 third-round bantam draft pick. The Tips still have four overagers, including Crowley, but goaltender David Reekie is exempt until he recovers from a bout with mono.